Cordillera Blanca Trekking & Hiking

Cordillera Blanca Alpamayo Trek – Cullicocha Lake

The Cordillera Blanca (“White Mountain Range”) is the world’s highest tropical mountain range. The name is a true testament to the range of almost countless snow-capped peaks, many of which are visible from Huaraz.

It is a compact range being 180 kilometres long and only 20 kms wide covering 340,000 hectares, but within this relatively small area there are 35 snow covered peaks that are above 5,700 meters and another 27 that soar over 6,000 meters above sea level. The highest is Huascaran at 6,768 meters and there is also the spectacular pyramid of Alpamayo, voted in many publications to be the most beautiful mountain in the world. The snow-covered peaks, the numerous glaciers and glacial lakes, the high plateaus intersected by deep ravines with torrential creeks and the variety of vegetation types form a spectacular landscape of rare beauty. In 1985 Huascarán National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the exceptional natural beauty, diverse & unique flora and fauna, biodiversity and archaeological values contained within the area

Exquisite Rima Rima Flowers Lost in a Sea of Lupins

Huascaran National Park – Cordillera Blanca

There are countless trekking and hiking trails passing through beautiful valleys with lakes and impressive waterfalls and vertical rock faces, and crossing passes that reach up to 4850m in altitude.

We have many trek options from 3 to 13 days which transverse through the valleys and ranges of the Cordillera Blanca, offering some of the most varied and spectacular trekking scenery of anywhere in the world.

Among the many Cordillera Blanca trekking options is the famous 4 or 5 day Santa Cruz Llanganuco trek, one of the most highly rated short treks anywhere in the world.

TREKS
These are just some of the Cordillera Blanca Trek options. We are very happy to discuss with you what you would like to do or see, the amount of time you have and can modify trek itineraries or “tailor make” a trek route to suit what you would like to do.

CLIC on the treks listed below for descriptions:

Trek Grading & Fitness
Trek grading and walking times are average estimates only for people of average fitness and who are well acclimatised to the altitude. Some people will be much faster and others will find it more difficult and be much slower. Estimated times have been based on our experience with previous groups. Your own hiking speeds will depend on how well you have adjusted to the altitude as well as your own personal fitness level. The effects of altitude do make the hiking much harder than a similar trek closer to sea level would be and different people adjust to the altitude in a different timeframe.

You need to have average to good fitness and be able to hike a sustained uphill climb for 2 to 3 hours without distress and manage the long descents down from the passes to be able to enjoy these treks, and also be able to manage several nights sleeping in tents in sometimes very cold conditions.

Easy / Moderate Trek: have some almost flat & easier walking mixed with moderate steepness hill hiking or climbing to the top of a mountain pass that is less strenuous than some of the other pass climbs

Moderate Trek: Will have a sustained climb to at least one high mountain pass (up to 4800m) with a corresponding steeper descent back down, mixed with some valley hiking. There can be some longer days (around 6 hours hiking) mixed with short days

Hard Trek: Some treks are considered to be Hard, generally because there are some long hiking days on trek. There will be multiple high mountain passes to cross (up to 4800m), with some treks having a high pass almost every day on trek. Routes can be less utilised so can be in rougher condition that some easier trek options. You should have above average fitness for these treks, good endurance and be able to hike for a long day 8 to 10 hours (taking your time and enjoying the views)

Note: that most trekking options in the Cordillera Blanca should be considered to be physically demanding owing to the altitude (you are above 4000m for the duration of the treks) and the mountainous nature of the terrain. Trails are often steep – both ascending or descending. Trails are not formed walking paths and can be uneven, slippery & rocky in places. It is a common comment from clients that they found the hiking to be harder than they were expecting.

This is usually due to the effects of altitude which invariably leaves people feeling less energetic than they would on similar hikes at lower altitudes. If you do not think you can enjoy this type of trekking, let us know and we can suggest some easier options

Trek Roads
Access to and from all Cordillera Blanca treks is via high mountain roads. These roads are mostly dirt roads (not paved).

Best Time to Go
May to September are considered to be the months with more settled weather and better chance to have nice hiking weather.

June, July & August are generally the dryer months in the Peruvian Andes but are also the busiest trekking months. May and September are “shoulder” months with some good trekking weather still possible and usually fewer other trekkers on the trails